Pendant necklaces are a must-have item of jewellery. They can often be the vital missing piece in an outfit and they can be a great way to express your personality. Whether you’re buying a pendant necklace for yourself or someone else, here are some tips on how to choose the perfect specimen.
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What style of pendant should you choose?
Pendants come in countless styles. Almost any object can be turned into a pendant – depending on how outlandish you want to go. Of course, there are many subtle styles too for when you don’t want your necklace to be the focal point.
Some pendant necklaces are designed for formal occasions like weddings and glamorous parties. These tend to contain precious metals and expensive stones and are often quite opulent. Such necklaces are most commonly bought as a special gift for a loved one.
Other pendant necklaces are designed for everyday casual settings. These tend to be made from inexpensive materials and may be more minimal or informal in design. It’s more common to buy these necklaces for oneself as an accessory, however they can also make great gifts.
What are some popular types of pendant?
There are a few pendant styles that are very popular on necklaces. These include:
Birthstones
When choosing a necklace with a stone in it, a birthstone necklace could be a great way to add some personal meaning. Each month has its own birthstone. Consider the month you/your recipient was born in and consider choosing a necklace containing the corresponding stone:
- January: Garnet
- February: Amethyst
- March: Aquamarine
- April: Diamond
- May: Emerald
- June: Pearl
- July: Ruby
- August: Peridot
- September: Sapphire
- October: Opal
- November: Citrine
- December: Tanzanite
Religious symbols
Pendants can be used to show devotion to one’s faith. Cross pendants are a popular choice for Christians. A Khanda necklace is meanwhile commonly worn by Sihks. Such pendants can be made from a range of materials and can come in a variety of sizes.
Nature-inspired charms
Pendants can also commonly take the form of charms shaped like various shapes from nature. Examples of nature-themed pendants include flowers, the sun, the moon, birds, trees, shells and butterflies. These nature-themed pedants can often have symbolism.
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Interest-inspired charms
You could also consider pendants themed around personal interests. Examples of such charms include guitars, ice skates, tennis rackets or cameras. These playful pendants can be great conversation starters and could be ideal for wearing to events themed around these interests.
Geometric shapes
Many pendants take the form of geometric shapes like triangles, diamonds, circles, stars and rectangles. Certain shapes can be used to accentuate and flatter certain features. For example, if you have a very round face, wearing a thin and long rectangle pendant could have a slimming quality.
Lockets
Lockets are typically circular or heart-shaped pendants that open up. They are often used to keep a photo inside, or another keepsake such as a lock of hair. They can make great sentimental gifts from loved ones. It’s worth noting that you can also buy urn necklaces to store a loved one’s ashes.
Inscriptions
Pendants can also contain custom inscriptions. This could be something as simple as initials or something longer such as a line from a poem. These inscriptions are usually engraved onto lockets, circular pendants or ‘dog-tag’-style pendants (a popular option for men).
How large should the pendant be?
A necklace with a large pendant is typically designed to be statement jewellery. Such a necklace is the focal point of an outfit and therefore shouldn’t be paired with anything that is equally bold or flashy so as not to reduce its impact.
Small pendants are more subtle and are better paired with outfits in which other items of clothing or jewellery are the focal point. These pendants are usually better for settings like the workplace or at home.
It’s worth noting that your height and frame can affect the impact that a certain size of pendant may have. If you’re quite slim and petite, a larger pendant may look oversized – it may benefit you to stick to relatively small pendants. Contrastingly, if you’re quite tall or broad, a small pendant might end up looking overly tiny – you may find that bigger pendants complement your body type better.
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How long should the chain be?
It’s also important to consider the chain length when choosing a pendant necklace. This can affect how high or how low the pendant hangs.
Smaller pendants typically look better hanging from shorter necklaces. This includes choker necklaces (between 14 and 16 inches) and princess necklaces (roughly about 18 inches). You can tuck these pendants into a collar, or you can wear them with a lower hemline to make the neck appear less bare.
Larger pendants look better when hanging from longer necklaces. The pendant on a matinee necklace (20 – 24 inches) will typically sit around the bust line, while opera necklaces (28 – 38 inches) have even lower hanging pendants for a more dramatic look. Such necklaces can be worn over a high collar or they can be used to draw attention to a plunging neckline. It’s also possible to layer these longer necklaces with shorter necklaces.
Your height – in particular your torso length – is likely to affect which type of chain is best suited to you. Those who are taller with a longer torso might want to choose longer chain necklaces. Those who are shorter with a shorter torso may want to avoid long chain necklaces as they may hang too low.
Conclusion
When choosing the perfect pendant necklace, there are clearly lots of factors to consider. Start by considering the setting in which you or your recipient is likely to wear the necklace. Casual or formal? Then consider how you can give it a personal twist. When it comes to getting the pendant size and chain length right, try to match it to your/your recipient’s body type and dress sense. Remember that not everyone necessarily wants to follow the rules – someone that is more daring with their outfits may feel more comfortable wearing a larger and flashier pendant necklace regardless of their size and the setting.